ESAU: THE FIRST JUKUN MAN IN THE WORLD

 In the Biblical story of Jacob and Esau, God made it clear that one can cheat their way to everlasting glory.

Esau was physically built like a hard- worker, while Jacob was built like a girl. Esau was the hunter who usually provided "bushmeat" for the household to enjoy because that was his default setting. 

There was no story of Esau lying or cheating in the Bible, he was an honest fellow.

According to the story, he got back home one day from an unsuccessful hunting exercise and had to sell his birthright to Jacob before he got a bowl of soup to quench his hunger.

In another twist of events, their father(Isaac) asked Esau to hunt, kill an animal and cook for him to eat so that he would bless him before he dies since he was old and nearing the end of his days on earth. Jacob and their mother connived, cooked up a plan, and scammed the father into pouring all the blessings onto the wrong son, Jacob.

If they were really brothers, why did Esau have to beg for food from his younger brother to the extent of selling his birthright? Esau had always risked being killed by wild animals in the jungle to provide fresh meat for his father's household.

Why would a mother go to the extent of duping her husband to favour one child over the other?

Why did God turn a blind eye when He knew someone was being cheated?

The Jukun man, like the biblical Esau, is and has always been a hard worker. He believes that his hard work and diligence would earn him a place in the Creator's good books and thereby attracting some kind of blessings that come from doing things the right way.

Whatever brings shame and disrespect would never be found anywhere you find a Jukun man, he'd rather hang himself than earn anything through dubious means. That's why a Jukun man in a position of authority would not steal or use their position to enrich and favour their brothers. Even when there's an employment opening in his office, he would never give his family the slot, because he wants to always do the right thing before God and man.

On the other hand, the Jacobs of this world whose ways are never straight, who do not want to suffer for anything, who are ever ready to jump on every opportunity to get ahead; would always appear at the right moment to take what God had destined for the Jukun man.

While the Jukun man, like Esau, would want to do the right thing before receiving his blessings, the other tribes are busy cutting corners and collecting the blessings.

While we continue being honest in our dealings because we want to bequeath a good name for our descendants, the Jacobs are busy looting, buying jobs for their wards, building fortunes, and planting a solid future for their descendants.

The blessing was waiting in Isaac's right hand, Esau obeyed his father's command and went hunting. Jacob who was not in the picture collected the blessings and became one of the richest men of his era. God allowed it for a purpose, to teach us that hard work, loyalty, faithfulness, and honesty do not always translate to attracting God's blessings at the end of the day. 

Some of the most successful characters in the Bible were always flouting God's commandments, but their sins didn't stop God from blessing them in abundance. 

The Jukun man needs to understand that selling his birthright to politicians for a pot of soup is cowardice and such a mentality would never place him in a position to receive God's blessings. He must see instant gratification as an impediment to his future blessings. 

The blessings are where God has placed them as He did in Isaac's right hand, it is not about who works the hardest anymore but who got there the fastest. It doesn't matter how you get there, just get there and take what God has placed there for anyone too slow to reach them at the appointed time.

We must borrow a leaf or two from one of God's favourite characters in the Bible, David. He was quick to confess, repent and seek forgiveness whenever he erred. 

Humans and sin are like needle and thread, inseparable. We must not deceive ourselves that we can live a life without sin. We must just not make Sin our lifestyle. 

We must begin to take advantage of opportunities to promote and favour ourselves before anyone else. God did not place us on earth to watch others succeed and prosper while we wither in poverty and wait for His blessings to befall us. We have worked really hard, but our lives do not reflect God's blessings. Could it be that someone else is stealing them?

And as God used his mother to help Jacob snatch Esau's blessings, may we be willing to help one another to achieve greatness through whatever means that would not endanger another person's life.

I'm not encouraging us to engage in questionable activities here, I am saying that we should never back down from doing evil for the greater good. Or else we would continue to work while the smart ones would end up taking all the blessings.

©JBZ_2022™